Don't get me wrong - from a functionality and comfort point of view, pistol grip and/or big loop is better. I'm just afraid the cowboy gods would come after me.
New to Lever guns and crave a Marlin 1895SBL in 45-70 - Thoughts?
- Thread starter acq.away
- Start date
Don't get me wrong - from a functionality and comfort point of view, pistol grip and/or big loop is better. I'm just afraid the cowboy gods would come after me.
Hi SuperCub
Yes, I guest i would say i have 'a powerful desire for' a 1895 Marlin SBL......But maybe you are correct, perhaps 'crave' is a bit strong.
I could have said that ...."I have a longing for, a yearning for, a desire for, a wish for, a hunger for, a thirst for, I pine for, I hanker after, I covet, a lust after, an ache for, am hell bent on"...... a Marlin 1895SBL......but 'crave' kind of describes my feelings towards that firearm!......
Is it wrong to 'crave' a firearm? As we are all Gunnutz - presumably I'm not the only one with these feelings?
Anyway SuperCub - do you have a Lever Gun? If so, what's it like?
I removed my loading gate and stoned the part between the screw end and the wider gate part. Making it thinner makes it flex easier. There are instructions on the web but it is pretty straightforward. Just be REALLY cautious about taking off too much material between tests. It can go from too stiff to too weak surprisingly fast. I also smoothed out the edges of the gate just in case my loading technique gets sloppy. And be warned, making Marlins cycle glass-smooth can be addictive.
Last edited:
If you like to tinker buy the Marlin. I've had 2 SBLs and 1 GBL. All required WWG Happy Triggers, polishing the innards, kerfing the lever loops and feed ramps and safety delete kits.
I now have a Henry and will never go back. GTG right out of the box. I'd suggest you cycle both brands then look at the internals. IMHO Henry wins.
However I will admit the SBL is ###ier and has a traditional side loading port.
I now have a Henry and will never go back. GTG right out of the box. I'd suggest you cycle both brands then look at the internals. IMHO Henry wins.
However I will admit the SBL is ###ier and has a traditional side loading port.
Thank you
I'm not much of a lever guy, but do have one.
It's a 1950 Marlin 336A 30-30 with un-drilled waffle top and 24" bbl. No extra holes or bubba-isms. I like it.
I live with three women. When I hear the word "crave" I think chocolate.
This +1
Bought a miroku extra light in 45-70 after laying it wide by side with an 1895 marlin on th gun counter, far superior in fit and finish.
- Location
- West Central Alberta
I love my little GBL.
- Location
- West Central Alberta
It shoots better than my old eyes. lol
I may have to scope it with a long eye relief scope cause the little critter does kick pretty good.
But with my old eyes and iron sights I could BS you and say that I get 2-3 inch groups.
But truth be told I get 4-5 inch groups at 100 yards with Hornady 325 gr FTX
I had the Henry, beautiful gun. I just couldn't abide the tube loading a la 22 style. A friend got back to his car one day and found the tube wasn't there anymore. Lucky he back tracked and found it. As I said earlier my Uberti beats even the Henry in the looks department. There is also something about the look of the SBL that I like. I'd had it for a bit, and then saw that it was good for dinosaurs as well as bears. I handload, so loading it down for range plinking makes it both economical and fun (a 450 gr bullet behind 60 or so grs. of Varget definitely isn't fun)
